Wrestling at Navy

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texdad2023

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Son received appointments to West Point and Navy. Interested in trying to walk-on to either teams. We have a better understanding of the West Point team and coach. However, have heard from a few (three) people NOT to try and walk-on at Navy. The atmosphere there is not good. But I don't know what "not good" means. Was wondering if anyone there now has any first-hand knowledge. Can send me personal message if you prefer.
 
Haven’t heard any gouge.

But only chiming in, to remember to think beyond the sport. Which he may, or may not, ultimately decide to continue. Hopefully he has thought along these lines. I would strongly advise to think beyond the sport and into the post SA community.

You could kit have ever convinced me that my Mid (now happy ensign) would walk away from his sport. But he did. Pick firstly, the service. The. The sport. Especially with two appointments.

Congrats !
 
texdad2023 said:
Son received appointments to West Point and Navy. Interested in trying to walk-on to either teams. We have a better understanding of the West Point team and coach. However, have heard from a few (three) people NOT to try and walk-on at Navy. The atmosphere there is not good. But I don't know what "not good" means. Was wondering if anyone there now has any first-hand knowledge. Can send me personal message if you prefer.
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What does your son want to do as an officer? There are kids right now in 8th grade who will entrust their lives to your son. Unless he is planning on going pro after service which school will give him the best wrestling opportunity is not the question you should be asking. BTW, I have a former WP wrestler reading this over my shoulder and he agrees "100%" what you want to do as an officer is way more important a decision.
 
My son is good friends with several wrestlers - one is coming here next week.

If you have specific questions, you can pm me. I will run it by him.
 
JohnMcLane said:
What does your son want to do as an officer? There are kids right now in 8th grade who will entrust their lives to your son. Unless he is planning on going pro after service which school will give him the best wrestling opportunity is not the question you should be asking. BTW, I have a former WP wrestler reading this over my shoulder and he agrees "100%" what you want to do as an officer is way more important a decision.
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It definitely won't be a deciding factor - or even play into it. My son worries about having to cut weight at schools that are so rigorous mentally and physically. Plus sitting in a dining hall with all that good food and not being able to eat it sounds like torture.

It is really about knowing whether this February he will be wrestling is last match ever - or whether he will still continue possibly in college.
 
texdad2023 said:
It def


It definitely won't be a deciding factor - or even play into it. My son worries about having to cut weight at schools that are so rigorous mentally and physically. Plus sitting in a dining hall with all that good food and not being able to eat it sounds like torture.

It is really about knowing whether this February he will be wrestling is last match ever - or whether he will still continue possibly in college.
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Well, if it helps my non varsity athlete MIDN says most of the food in King Hall is easy to pass up.

On a more serious note the wrestlers I had in high school when I taught were the kids I worried about the most. So dangerous playing the cut weight game in developing bodies and minds.

I hope your son chooses the right career path that speaks to him and selects the academic and military family that is right for him.
 
texdad2023 said:
he said it was good at CVW -- maybe there is a bait and switch -- or he just has low standards. :):):)
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My kid loves CVW weekends. Food improves a lot.

Honestly, no one will starve. But it definitely isn’t something to write home about.
 
Heatherg21 said:
Well, if it helps my non varsity athlete MIDN says most of the food in King Hall is easy to pass up.

On a more serious note the wrestlers I had in high school when I taught were the kids I worried about the most. So dangerous playing the cut weight game in developing bodies and minds.

I hope your son chooses the right career path that speaks to him and selects the academic and military family that is right for him.
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Yes - the school he is at is very strict and doesn't allow weight cutting. They have a weight descension plan that takes into account body fat, hydration and starting weight. But he goes up against kids all the time from schools that don't pay attention to that and they are like 10 pounds heavier than he is after weigh-in. But I am assuming that (any) college is very serious about it.
 
texdad2023 said:
Yes - the school he is at is very strict and doesn't allow weight cutting. They have a weight descension plan that takes into account body fat, hydration and starting weight. But he goes up against kids all the time from schools that don't pay attention to that and they are like 10 pounds heavier than he is after weigh-in. But I am assuming that (any) college is very serious about it.
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Don’t assume anything. Get some facts.
 
1. Our adopted usna plebe was here tonight and he is very enthusiastic about usna food. He was the captain of our wrestling team.
2. My kid wrestles and weight cutting had been a concern particularly in the popular brackets. He doesn't have to do it now which is nice. 157 br
3. I'll be happy when he's no longer in a sport that has weigh ins.
4. I hate wrestling matches. Every weekend....
5. If he's not wrestling in college not sure what the issue is.
 
texdad2023 said:
Yes - the school he is at is very strict and doesn't allow weight cutting. They have a weight descension plan that takes into account body fat, hydration and starting weight. But he goes up against kids all the time from schools that don't pay attention to that and they are like 10 pounds heavier than he is after weigh-in. But I am assuming that (any) college is very serious about it.
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Both of my boys wrestled in high school. They ALL have unhealthy weight/body fat/dehydration issues. Of course, on paper, they have strict rules that are governed by the state athletic boards. But what is written, and what happens in the privacy of your home, are often two different things.

He won’t get away from these issues at any collegiate level program. So not sure why it’s the basis of comparing USMA and USNA? Regardless, at a SA, he can walk away if it’s too much. And it is for many an athlete. VS at State XX, if on scholarship, and he decides it’s too much (and I agree, doing those things to your body doesn’t bode well for the best academic outlook), and walks away? He looses his scholarship.

He can do his sport at either SA. He doesn’t have to decide now. But I absolutely wouldn’t have the wrestling program be the basis of his decision. Wrestling is the toughest sport to maintain. I was always so glad when the season was over.
 
texdad2023 said:
Son received appointments to West Point and Navy. Interested in trying to walk-on to either teams. We have a better understanding of the West Point team and coach. However, have heard from a few (three) people NOT to try and walk-on at Navy. The atmosphere there is not good. But I don't know what "not good" means. Was wondering if anyone there now has any first-hand knowledge. Can send me personal message if you prefer.
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Not sure where your information is coming from related to the atmosphere being "not good" at Navy?? Your contact and or information is absolutely wrong. IMO!!

Coach Kolat and his team are Outstanding and he really helps build these young men mentally, physically and to compete at the D1 level. The atmosphere in any wrestling environment is different than any other sport, so if your not from or about that type of mindset then you could view it as "not good or different". Wrestlers at this level are different by nature and their mindset is not like most. This wrestling program, coaches, wrestlers and managers are TOP NOTCH people with an atmosphere that is 2nd to none! It's not uncommon for many of these individuals to be service selected for SEALs and EOD, so their type of mindset and service to our country is not for everyone and again viewed by others as different!

Rest assured, NAVY WRESTLING is in a great place and growing in a positive direction. If your son chooses NAVY and pursues wrestling the group of coaches and MIDS are great people and you have nothing to worry about that would be a negative.
 
texdad2023 said:
However, have heard from a few (three) people NOT to try and walk-on at Navy.
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There is always talk about whether a walk-on is possible at D1 programs but a lot of it is just chatter from the masses. Sports like swimming or track where it is easy to see who is faster/throws further or wrestling where it can be seen who is winning in a particular weight class should be ripe places for walk-ons.
 
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My son is currently a recruited wrestler for the Coast Guard Academ attendeding NAPS this year with what is consider to be one of the top Navy wrestling recruited classes. I can say that all the Navy wrestlers are both extremely talented and great friends. The whole team is exceptionally tight which has made my son regain his enjoyment of the sport. The NAPS wrestlers all spent a week at the Naval Academy with Coach Kolat and practiced with having a great time. They got to watch the wrestling team do wrestle offs and they were all at exceptional levels. Understand that my son besides his wrestling teammates at NAPS has 3 or 4 current midshipmen at Navy who were his friends from wrestling as a youth and high school. They all are tight as a team and some are seniors who are still wrestling though they are not the starters which says alot about the team. Playing a grueling sport in a military academy even when not starting with the academic and military requires show that the bonds are deep with the team. Just be warned that adjust your expectations, the young men on the Navy wrestling team are scary good. Many state champs, national prep Champs and players are on that team with alot not starting as the talent pool is deep. If you are already worried about weight cutting before you walk on then you might consider choosing another sport because at the college level unless you are a heavier weight class everyone cuts because the competition both internal and external is too good. Good luck on your appointment though and if your DS does wrestle he will meet some great guys especially the 10 or so guys coming in as mids from NAPS!
 
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Thanks - I didn't think about NAPS. Sounds like their building a solid pipeline through that. Didn't mean to get cross ways with anyone. It is one thing for kids to drop wrestling because the team is super competitive and another if there are any other issues. Was trying to ascertain whether it was the former or the latter.
 
texdad2023 said:
he said it was good at CVW -- maybe there is a bait and switch -- or he just has low standards. :):):)
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Once he sees the box saying "Eggs are for prisoner of military consumption only," he'll come around. 😂 Honestly, KH food gets a bad reputation. It is not the culinary adventure you'll get at State U, but it is free, it is all you can eat, and it isn't bad food. You also can't expect a whole lot when culinary staff has to cook over 12k meals a day. They do very well considering the task at hand and I have nothing but respect for our King Hall warriors!

Plebe Summer will have good food as well!
 
Usnavy2019 said:
Once he sees the box saying "Eggs are for prisoner of military consumption only," he'll come around. 😂 Honestly, KH food gets a bad reputation. It is not the culinary adventure you'll get at State U, but it is free, it is all you can eat, and it isn't bad food. You also can't expect a whole lot when they have to cook over 12k meals a day.

Plebe Summer will have good food as well! 2/C Parents Weekend is also when they'll come out with a good entrée.
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My son never complained about the food. When it doesn’t look good, there are options.
 
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